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Ballade de Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics


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Ça, c'est l'histoire
De Melody Nelson
Qu'à part moi-même, personne
N'a jamais pris dans ses bras
Ça vous étonne
Mais c'est comme ça

Elle avait d'l'amour
Pauvre Melody Nelson
Ouais, elle en avait des tonnes
Mais ses jours étaient comptés
Quatorze automnes
Et quinze étés

Un petit animal
Que cette Melody Nelson
Une adorable garçonne
Et si délicieuse enfant
Que je n'ai connue qu'un instant

Oh, ma Melody
Ma Melody Nelson
Aimable petite conne
Tu étais la condition
Sine qua non
De ma raison

Overall Meaning

The song Ballade de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg is a tragic love story of a young girl named Melody Nelson whom the singer claims had never been held by anyone except for him. He reveals that despite her having an abundance of love, her days were numbered, with only 14 autumns and 15 summers to live. The singer describes Melody as a charming and delightful child who he only knew for a brief moment. He addresses her in the chorus as "ma Melody Nelson", and though he uses the term "aimable petite conne", which means "adorable little idiot" in French, it is clear that he is fond of her despite her young age.


The song is widely interpreted as a commentary on the sexualization of young girls and the predatory behavior of older men towards them. The constant repetition of Melody's young age and the singer's possessive behavior towards her are unsettling and uncomfortable. Additionally, the line "Tu étais la condition/Sine qua non de ma raison", which means "You were the condition/Without which there was no reason for me", suggests that the singer's infatuation with Melody has clouded his judgment and affected his mental stability.


Overall, the song is a haunting and disturbing tale that calls into question the ethics and morality surrounding age differences in relationships, with the singer ultimately coming across as a dangerous predator.


Line by Line Meaning

Ça c'est l'histoire de Melody Nelson
This is the tale of Melody Nelson


Qu'à part moi-même personne
That no one other than me


N'a jamais pris dans ses bras
Has ever held in her arms


Ça vous étonne
Does that surprise you?


Mais c'est comme ça
But that’s just how it is


Elle avait de l'amour, pauvre Melody Nelson
Poor Melody Nelson had love in abundance


Ouais, elle en avait des tonnes
Loads of it, in fact


Mais ses jours étaient comptés
But she had a limited time


Quatorze automnes et quinze étés
Only fourteen autumns and fifteen summers


Un petit animal que cette Melody Nelson
Melody Nelson was like a small animal


Une adorable garçonne
An adorable young girl


Et si délicieuse enfant
Such a delightful child


Que je n'ai connue qu'un instant
Whom I only knew for a moment


Oh, ma Melody, ma Melody Nelson
Oh, my Melody, my Melody Nelson


Aimable petite conne
Lovely little idiot


Tu étais la condition
You were the condition


Sine qua non de ma raison
The essential element of my reason




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jean-Claude Vannier, Serge Gainsbourg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@nordmusic1778

Je suis heureuse que mon père ait participé à cet enregistrement, dans les cordes. Les séances des cordes ont eu lieu en mai 1970 au Studio des Dames, Paris, aujourd'hui disparu.

@zeta75011

❤ Waw ! le monde à besoin de commentaire ainsi

@laurentdevaux9865

Album magnifique et incompris à l'époque .....

@mickaelgarnier1359

Énorme !!!❤

@fionashaw1604

Quelle elegance, quel amour! J'en suis jalouse et heureuse pour eux en meme temps. F de GB

@ellahorska7454

RIP to one of the most shy, sweet yet sensual women of her time. In heaven with both Serge and Kate...

@ludovicsenou2181

Ça ne s appelle pas une chanson ça
Ça s appelle une oeuvre d art
C est juste sublime !

@legueuxgueule3431

j'adore cette chanson mais je ne saurai expliquer pourquoi....ce mélange quasi orgasmique d'une basse sourde et profonde et des ces violons volontairement atténués....une pure merveille 48 ans après sa naissance! Merci MR GAINSBOURG pour l'empreinte que vous avez laissée dans ma mémoire...

@sylvainparachini6559

Un véritable chef d'œuvre, Serge était un génie, tu nous manques Sergio.

@kevinmcnamara2082

I just heard this song today and It gave me asmr Chills on my scalp!!!! so now I’m going to have to fall asleep every night listening to this beautiful piece of art!

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